# NTSB ATL00LA064: Aeronca 7BCM, N83972, Palmetto, FL, June 10, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 10, 2000, 19:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Palmetto, FL - Coordinates: 27.51918, -82.569206 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.5192&lon=-82.5692&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49398 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL00LA064 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49398/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL00LA064 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during final approach to landing, resulting in an inadvertent stall. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - runway ## Analysis The pilot was practicing a power-off landing on runway 7. While on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, he retarded the throttle to idle. Shortly after turning onto final approach, he stated that he attempted to apply power but there was 'no response.' However, witnesses observed the pilot turn the airplane onto the base leg in a steep right bank at the midpoint of the runway. The steep bank continued while the airplane turned onto final approach, and the airplane descended rapidly. At 40 to 60 ft. agl, the wings were leveled while the airplane had diminutive forward airspeed. Both witnesses heard what sounded like power being applied to the engine moments before impact. The airplane then impacted the ground near the midfield point of the runway in a wings level attitude, damaging the propeller and right wing. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical discrepancies, and weather conditions at the time of the accident were not favorable for the formation of carburetor ice. ## Factual narrative On June 10, 2000, about 1900 eastern daylight time, an Aeronca 7BCM, N83972, registered Seminole Aviation Association, Inc., was substantially damaged when it collided with the ground during landing flare/touchdown to runway 7 at Manatee Airport in Palmetto, Florida. The commercial pilot received serious injuries and one passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from Vandenberg Airport in Tampa, Florida, at 1730. According to the pilot, he was practicing a power-off landing on runway 7. He stated that while on the downwind leg at 600 feet above ground level (agl), he applied carburetor heat and retarded the throttle to idle. After turning final, he attempted to "bring back power," but there was "no response." The airplane impacted the north side of the midfield point of the runway in a wings level attitude. The propeller was damaged, and the right wing was bent down 30 degrees. However, according to one witness, he observed the airplane on a "close-in" right downwind, and heard the engine's power reduced to idle. He stated that at the time, the airplane's altitude was 300 to 500 feet agl. Shortly thereafter, the airplane "banked sharply into a right base" at the midpoint of the runway. He stated that "in lining up the aircraft for final approach, the bank was held for most of the base leg and appeared to increase to avoid overshooting the runway. Altitude quickly decreased as the aircraft turned and [the] engine stayed at idle speed. At approximately 40 to 60 feet agl, the wings were leveled and the engine surged briefly. Forward airspeed had almost completely dissipated." The airplane then impacted hard on the runway. Another witness stated that he observed the pilot make a "steep turn to base," then banked the airplane "very steep to make the runway" onto final approach. During the bank, the airplane lost altitude and the pilot "tried to add power prior to impact." According to an FAA inspector, a postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical discrepancies. Weather conditions at the time of the accident were not favorable for the formation of carburetor ice. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N83972](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N83972-2006-01-27), registration cancelled 2006-01-27, S/N 7AC-2658 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aeronca 7BCM - Registry model: [Aeronca 7BCM](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7bcm) (registry code 2110106) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7AC-2658 - Engines: Continental C-85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Seminole Aviation Assoc. Inc. - Registered owner: Robert A. Erickson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 15, 1999, 135 hours before - Departed: X16, VANDERBERG, FL - Destination: 48X - Airport: 48X, Manatee Airport, runway 25, 3,685 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 7,300 total, 400 in this make and model, 7,058 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SRQ, 15 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20000610009759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000610009759A), Jun 10, 2000: Bbavia 7BCM, Palmetto, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) On June 10, 2000, about 1800 EST, an Aeronca 7BCM, N83972, registered to seminole aviation association, operated by[privacy data omitted],received… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.